# How to compute torque?

1. Mar 8, 2010

Hello, i am confused in which equation to use when calulating torque....

my textbook equation for torque is T = FD sin theta

whilst the equation i have been taught is T = nBIA cos theta

and... my textbook says that torque will be the greatest when applied at right angles (90 degrees). However the cos theta eqn. if you sub cos 90 it equals 0. Hence no torque

what to do?

thanks

2. Mar 8, 2010

### rl.bhat

Re: Torque

First torque is due to a mechanical force. Here torque is maximum when the force is perpendicular to the displacement.
Second one the torque on a current carrying coil in a magnetic field. Here θ is the angle between the plane of the coil and the magnetic field.

3. Mar 8, 2010

### Allens

yea but for the second equation,when u sub θ =90 torque would equal zero, however when you sub zero you get a value. But θ = 0 means the coil is parallel with mag field hence no torque :S

4. Mar 8, 2010

### tiny-tim

(have a tau: τ and a theta: θ )

The θ in τ = nBIAcosθ is the angle between the direction of the field and the plane of the circuit.

The θ in τ = FDsinθ is the angle between the direction of the two forces (in the torque) and the displacement between the two forces.

The plane of the coil will contain a direction M perpendicular to the field, B. Let L be the direction perpendicular to M in the plane. We can assume that the coil is rectangular, with sides parallel to L and M.

The displacement between the M sides is parallel to L, and the direction of the force on those sides is also parallel to L, so the torque is zero.

The displacement between the L sides is parallel to M, and the direction of the force on those sides is perpendicular to B, in the plane of M and B, so the torque is proportional to the sin of the angle between M and the line "perpendicular to B, in the plane of B and M" …

in other words, the cos of the angle between M and B.

5. Mar 8, 2010

Re: Torque